Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea marks first anniversary of Rev Dr Wesley Kigasung's death

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG will tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the death of its much-respected and charismatic leader Bishop Rev Dr Wesley Kigasung.

The ELCPNG, one of the largest mainline churches in the country with more than 1.2 million followers, lost   the American university educated Rev Dr Wesley on May 14, 2008, aged 57.

He is survived by wife Susie, daughters Joanna and Maureen, son Luther, son-in-law Franford Dagina, and two grand daughters Natasha and Melissa.

His legacy, however, lives on to this day as Lutherans throughout PNG still struggle to come to terms with his untimely death.

In emotional scenes in Port Moresby, Mount Hagen, Madang and Lae upon his passing last year, thousands of church followers turned up to pay their last respects.

A successor for Rev Dr Kigasung will be elected at the 2010 synod to be hosted by the Jabem district next January.

Staff at the ELCPNG headquarters at Ampo in Lae and the 17 district presidents will tomorrow travel to Rev Dr Kigasung’s Aluki village to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.

They will hand over the headstone for his grave, to be followed by a service, speeches, and a final customary feast to end the traditional one year of mourning.